I was MIA for a little while, and just getting back into the M/C scene. I noticed a ######### happened over at AMA. Can someone please explain to me what happened there?

The AMA sold most of the racing series to be run by DMG. According to 2-3 posters here they're improving it, and to everyone else they're taking racing back 30 years. That pretty much sums it up.

Here's a synopsis posted from another forum. Zoot will be here shortly to correct the errors, and I have no doubt there are some:

They want to do away with 1000s - the factories are forcing them to stay but DMG will only agree to 2 years at this point, the class will be 'literbikes' and they will be far closer to stock than today.

There will be a 600 'superbike' class, their stupid MotoST class which runs 3 hour endurance races with 3 separate horsepower limited classes - an existing series which draws very few fans and the logic for running it is that the fans love singles and twins Rolling Eyes and a class for up-and-coming new riders potentially like the existing Red Bull series but no guarantees that it will be this specific class because, as I read it, they aren't sure that they can suck enough money out of Red Bull (and presumably because Red Bull is doing a FANTASTIC job so they must screw with it). All with spec tires, fuel and they seem to think they can do something like spec'ing ECUs.

The AMA is the laughing stock of the world now and it's going to get worse by all appearances. These bozos run NASCAR and they think they are going to take motorcycle racing to the masses and the attitude seems to be 'screw the existing fans, we'll get lots more'.

Oh, did I mention rolling starts and pace cars? Bringing back tracks like Loudon that were removed because they won't increase safety? Shocked

The future will set us back 20 years...

Oh, 1000s are not factory only as far as I know (my eyes glaze over when I read their bs so who knows?) but if the factory wants to race it must enter 4 riders...

That pretty much sums it up.

In other words, it's the end of the world, as we know it. (at least from this fan's perspective)

garyb425 - 14 May 2008 09:09 AM

Zoot will be here shortly to correct the errors

While I would see why some would argue that the current format of AMA needs a shakeup (Suzuki dominance, manufacturers cherry picking divisions), to use 600s as the premier class seems counterintuitive.

I'm guessing I am not alone given the not so positive reactions I'm reading.

The DMG and AMA deal has been announced, but the contract has not been finalized. The proposed rules changes are just that, "proposed". The people making decisions at DMG have more experience in running a successful racing org than any of the internet experts posting here. As far as I know none of the people that claim to have a better solution to class structure and rules actually put a solution on paper, gathered investors and submitted a proposal to purchase AMA Pro Racing. Mostly just a bunch of folks speculating about the demise (or set back) of AMA racing. Nothing has happened or is finalized.

The sky is falling, the sky is falling!!!!!!!

glefos - 14 May 2008 01:03 PM

The DMG and AMA deal has been announced, but the contract has not been finalized. The proposed rules changes are just that, "proposed". The people making decisions at DMG have more experience in running a successful racing org than any of the internet experts posting here. As far as I know none of the people that claim to have a better solution to class structure and rules actually put a solution on paper, gathered investors and submitted a proposal to purchase AMA Pro Racing. Mostly just a bunch of folks speculating about the demise (or set back) of AMA racing. Nothing has happened or is finalized.

The sky is falling, the sky is falling!!!!!!!

But the DMG will be running things from now on, that is final. Class structures and rules are not final.

The DMG and AMA deal has been announced, but the contract has not been finalized

Huh? It's been final for quite some time. The class proposals may not be finalized yet, but the direction that has been set is ominous. There also were other offers being considered but DMG got the contract. What may happen will happen and all of our speculating may be nothing, however, let's all revisit this in one year or two and see if things are better or not. I am very concerned with the "dumbing down" of superbike, and even more so the apparent move toward rovals and unsafe tracks "made" safe by racing slower motorcycles.

Nothing has happened or is finalized

Tell that to Josh Hayes and Erion (and no i'm not looking to stir up the guilty/not guilty argumnet again)

The sky may not be falling, then again if you are not a Nascar/Grand Am fan it just may be. Time will tell

It could turn out that the crowds would increase and bring in some new fans to the series. I particularly don't mind it being like a kept little secret too much. I remember sitting in the stands a couple years ago at laguna during the time when EBoz was racing the ZX7R against the larger machines and would take the lead only to loose it on the front straight. There were a couple of noobs there who through out the whole race when he would get passed on the straight that they would comment " he just ain't got the horsepower, man". Good observation to state once, but after 18 laps of hearing it, it just got annoying.
The thing I wonder is, why not just adopt the rules and structure that WSBK has now? Why re-invent the wheel??

glefos - 14 May 2008 01:03 PM

The DMG and AMA deal has been announced, but the contract has not been finalized. The proposed rules changes are just that, "proposed". The people making decisions at DMG have more experience in running a successful racing org than any of the internet experts posting here. As far as I know none of the people that claim to have a better solution to class structure and rules actually put a solution on paper, gathered investors and submitted a proposal to purchase AMA Pro Racing. Mostly just a bunch of folks speculating about the demise (or set back) of AMA racing. Nothing has happened or is finalized.

The sky is falling, the sky is falling!!!!!!!

I think any of we, 'the internet experts', have our opinions as to decent class structure - '09 Superbike rules had already been decided but now have to be re-thought since they didn't include 4 bikes per team - which is a bizarre twist, and some of the other strange ideas in there. As far as a complete rules structure - no, I don't claim to be enough of an expert there but it wouldn't be too hard to gather the necessary people to do it.

Keep the '09 Superbike rules, eliminate the 4 rider requirement. For 600s almost no mods - fork springs and oil, shock, chip, brake pads and fluid, race body work and probably a couple other minor mods and get at least a gentleman's agreement for the factories to keep out. And the Red Bull Cup stays as long as Red Bull will sponsor it, it is the best thing the National series has going for it.

You'd need another class but that wouldn't be a struggle, and it's not Moto ST.

Did I put a solution on paper and submit it to the AMA? No. I didn't run for president either but I can tell whether or not ours is doing a good job.

CHIP? What is that? our race biks ore not cars! Are you perhaps meaning ECU? Ok its like this, Drop in fork cartridges (Olhins) Rear shock, Race glass (bodywork) Bar clipons, Race exhaust, Race brake lines and pads,
and an issued non progamable ECU with the addition of a PowerComander to adjust fuel maps. That is about how it will be.